7 Fascinating Trends in Student Behavior This Year: A Teacher’s Reflection (2022-2023)

This year was difficult. At the end of each year I think it’s important to reflect. In this post we will discuss trends in student behavior from the 2022-2023 school year.

Reflecting on the School Year

As the academic year comes to a close, teachers are taking a moment to reflect on the trends in student behavior that have emerged over the past year.

From the rise of remote learning to the impact of social media on students’ mental health, this year has brought some surprising changes that have left educators with plenty to ponder.

As a teacher myself, I have been fascinated by the ways in which students have adapted to the challenges of this unprecedented year.

In this article, I will share my insights on the top 10 surprising trends in student behavior that I have observed, and explore what they might mean for the future of education.

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or simply someone interested in the latest trends in education, this article is sure to offer some thought-provoking insights and fresh perspectives.

1 Trends in Student Behavior: Tech in the Classroom

The use of technology has been on the rise in classrooms for years, but this year has seen an unprecedented increase in the use of technology.

1. Adapting to the New Normal

When remote learning became the norm, teachers had to pivot and find innovative ways of teaching.

This led to an increase in the use of technology in classrooms, and students are more comfortable with technology than ever before.

My classroom is completely blended with hand-written and computer-based assignments given equally. AI is also here to stay.

The Downside of Tech

However, the use of technology has its downsides, and I have noticed a change in student behavior as a result.

Students are more easily distracted by technology, and they often struggle to focus on their studies.

They have become more reliant on technology to complete their assignments, and they often struggle to complete work without technology.

Students are more reluctant turn off their phones and headphones. Students often open gaming apps on their computers during the lesson.

In addition, social media has led to an increase in bullying of teachers and students.

We use GoGuardian at my school. This way we can monitor what the students are doing online in class. My students don’t like it but I love that I can send them private messages about staying on task or close games during a lesson.

2 Trends in Student Behavior: The Rise of Mental Health Concerns Among Students

The past few years have been a challenging time for everyone, and students are no exception. The pandemic has had a significant impact on students’ mental health, and teachers have noticed an increase in mental health concerns among students.

Students are struggling with anxiety, depression, and stress, and teachers have had to find new ways to support them. Teachers have had to adapt to this change in behavior by providing more support to students.

We have had to find new ways to help students cope with their mental health concerns, and adjust our teaching to accommodate students who are struggling.

3 Trends in Student Behavior: Study Habits and Academic Performance

The pandemic has had a significant impact on students’ study habits and academic performance. With remote learning becoming the norm, students have had to adjust to a new way of learning, and this has led to changes in their study habits.

Students are spending more time studying independently, and they have had to find new ways to stay motivated and focused.

Teachers have had to adjust their teaching style to accommodate these changes in study habits. We have had to provide more support to students who are struggling, and they have had to find new ways to keep students engaged in class.

While I don’t think it is wrong to address the needs of our students AT ALL, I do lament such a strong push towards “catching up” from Covid loss.

Some students are performing better than ever before, while others are struggling to keep up. It’s had a heavy impact on seasoned teachers and new teachers alike.

4 Trends in Student Behavior: The Influence of Social Media on Student Behavior

Many teachers had to find new ways to incorporate social issues into their teaching, and they have had to find ways to help students develop leadership skills. I think this is one of the better things to come out of the last few years.

Social media has become an integral part of students’ lives, and this year has seen an increase in the influence of social media on student behavior.

Students are spending more time on social media, and has led to problems. They are more easily influenced by social media, and they often struggle to separate reality from fiction.

The first couple of weeks of each school year are about digital citizenship. I teach students how to identify fake news, and I consider ways to help students develop critical thinking skills.

5 Trends in Student Behavior: The Rise of Activism and Social Consciousness Among Students

The past year has seen a rise in activism and social consciousness among students. Students are more aware of social issues than ever before, and they are taking action to make a difference.

I’ve noticed changes in student behavior, with students becoming more engaged in social issues and more vocal about their beliefs.

6 Trends in Student Behavior: The Changing Attitudes Towards Traditional Gender Roles and Sexuality

There has been a significant shift in attitudes towards traditional gender roles and sexuality with my students. Students are more accepting of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and they are more vocal about their beliefs.

I’ve noticed changes in student behavior, with students becoming more accepting and inclusive. Some teachers had to find new ways to create safe and inclusive spaces for all students, but many already had safe places for all their students.

Many of us incorporated discussions about diversity and inclusion in our teaching, and we found ways to support students who are struggling with their identity.

7 Trends in Student Behavior: The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Behavior

The pandemic has had a significant impact on student behavior. The pandemic has had a significant impact on student behavior. The pandemic has had a significant impact on student behavior. The pandemic has had a significant impact on student behavior.

I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH.

Sometimes it feels like I am screaming this into the void.

Students had to adjust to a new way of learning, and they had to deal with the stress and anxiety that came with the pandemic.

We had a 33% positivity rate near our school. EVERY DAY I heard of someone’s parents catching Covid and several of my students lost loved ones. They have not gotten over this.

I’ve noticed significant changes in student behavior, with some students becoming more withdrawn and others becoming more vocal about their beliefs.

Teachers had to find ways to help students cope with the stress and anxiety that comes with the pandemic, and they have had to find ways to keep students engaged in class. I am not a therapist or a certified counselor, but every day we try to talk through difficult problems together.

I think this is more important than learning loss. Kids are smart. They will eventually get the information. If we can help them heal from their trauma first, we can get them caught up. If we try to push them through their trauma, we will continue to see them pushing back with outbursts and disruptive behavior.

The Need for Teacher’s Adaptation to Changing Student Behavior

With so many changes in student behavior, teachers had to adapt to new ways of teaching. We had to find new ways to keep students engaged in class, and had to find new ways to support students who are struggling.

This has led to changes in teaching styles, with many of us becoming more flexible and adaptable. Teachers have had to find ways to incorporate technology into our teaching, and we had to find ways to support students who are struggling with mental health concerns.

We had to find ways to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, and we had to find ways to incorporate discussions about social issues into our teaching.

The Rise of Mental Health Concerns Among Teachers

I want to touch on this briefly because of how it affects students and our classes, and it will likely be a blog post once I have the mental space to write about it.

This year one of my colleagues had a mild heart attack. I know of another who died of a heart attack. One of our administrators had her glasses broken and several were punched square in the face.

As educators, it is so important to understand that we must take care of our own mental health before we can help our students. We cannot help our students if we are struggling.

Conclusion

This year was an exciting year for many reasons. We definitely had ups and downs but I think I genuinely learned a lot about my students.

We are finally starting to see the effects of Covid on this generation of students. We’ve seen kids are very attached to their tech – be it phones, social media, or EdTech, students are hooked, for better or worse.

Students are more accepting of different sexualities, and are more proactive in social justice. Many teachers made sure their students had a safe outlet for students to discuss their ideas.

We need qualified individuals to be in the classrooms to help our students work through trauma. In addition, we need a framework in place to prevent students from experiencing additional trauma or opening up old trauma.

As I head into summer this year, I reflect on all these things and consider what worked, what needs tweaking, and what needs an overhaul. I hope society does this, as well. We need to listen to our children because they are speaking and I have a feeling this generation will be heard.